Cider mill and press



(No Model.) 3 Sheets8heet 1.

B. F. ORILEY.

CIDER MILL AND PRESS. No. 317,313. Patented May 5, 1885'.

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B. P.- GRILEY.

CIDER MILL AND PRESS. No. 317,313. Patented May 5, 1885.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. GRILEY, OF ISABELLA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIDER MILL AND PRESS.

SJPECIFICATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,313, dated May 5, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. ORILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the village of Isabella, county of Chester, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cider Mills and Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined mill and press adapted to the manufacture of both cider and wine; and it consists in the application of an intermittent pressure to an endless intermittent traveling rack and pomace-apron in combination therewith.

The object of the invention is to constructa machine that will avoid handling of the pomace, that will automatically receive the pomace, place the same under the press, and express the juice therefrom, discharging the dry pomace from the machine.

The above objects are attained in the use of the machine shown in the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a front elevation of the feeding and drivingside of the machine at the moment of final pressure, the press-platens resting upon the pomace apron and rack. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a partial plan view showing the endless rack, pomace-apron, and pressure-plates. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, represents a front elevation of the machine opposite to the driving side, showing the arrangement for giving the intermittent motion to the pomace rack and aprons, the press represented at its highest lift, with the pomace rack and aprons raised by the springs above the bedplate, so as to move freely forward asthe rack is reciprocally driven by the pawl and ratchet shown. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a transverse section taken in front of the rear press, the central support of the bed being removed, and showing the pomace-apron folded around the same, with the sub-apron completing the inclosure of the pomace. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, represents an end elevation of the mill and of the machine, the mill being shown in section 011 the line 10 10 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, Sheet 3, a detail elevation of the folding guide placed intermediate to the mill and press; Fig. 7, Sheet 3, a detail elevation of the unfolding guide placed near the rear end of the frame; Fig. 8, Sheet 3, detail front and sectional elevation of one of the heads of the grinder; Fig. 9, Sheet 3, detail inside View of head and a partial front elevation of the grinding-cylinder; Fig. 10, Sheet 3, detail views of the ratchet-and-pawl arrangement for securing an intermittent movement of the pomace rack and aprons; Fig. 11, Sheet 3, a detail view of the platen-connection; Fig. 12, Sheet 3, a view of the rear roll for the pomace-apron; Fig. 13, Sheet 3, a plan and elevation of pressure-plates; Fig. 14, Sheet 2, a partial plan and side view of the pomace-rack with its copper-band connection; Fig. 15, Sheet 2, an elevation of an alternative plan of operating the pomace-apron by which the time of action may be changed, and to which I give preference; Fig. 16, Sheet 1, separate details of the pawl, box, and levers connected with the above arrangement and mode of operation.

A represents a suitable frame-work, upon one end of which is placed the hopper B, and in combination with thesame the grindingcylinder 0, driven by a belt upon the pulley G.

The grinding-cylinder is composed of a series of segments, 0 preferably of apple-wood, and are retained in the heads C by screws 0* and through bolts 0", the ends of the segments abutting against the head and resting upon ledges G on the inside face of the same.

The heads are slotted at (J for the grindingknives, and are provided on their outer face with ears having oblong bolt-holes therein, whereby the knives are adjustably movable therein. The heads are secured in place up on the shaft by set-screws D. The knives E are of steel, about one and one-fourth inch in width, and are preferably notched down at their ends E to permit the setting out of the same to compensate for wear.

E is the bolt-hole for securing the knife to the ear; E, a wrought-iron ring shrunk upon the heads. A concave, F, is suspended by a fulcrum-bolt, F, to the rear of the hopper, and is preserved in a vertical position with reference to the cylinder by the adj ustingscrews F in the spring-cross bar F. The concaveis formed of hard wood, secured to the ribs F. To guard against breakage, springs G are secured to a cross-bar, G, sufficiently rigid to retain the concave in place while performing its legitimate duty; but should some extraneous ungrindable article fall'between the concave and grinding-cylinder the springs will allow the same to pass through and drop upon the pomace-apron. A slide, B, is introduced to control the feed of material to the grinding-mill. An endless pomace-apron, H, of the full width of the space between the frame, passes over rollers H, j ournaled in adjustable plates of suitable form, and extends from end to end of the frame, as shown. Immediately beneath the apron H, and running over rolls I, journaled in suitable boxes upon the frame A, is a pomace-rack, J, formed of hard-wood slats, secured to copper bands J. The rack is made about five-eighths of the width between the frame. A sub or covering apron, K, also endless, is suspended upon rollers K, j ournaled in tension-eyes K and in compression-eyes K This apron is of a width sufficient to cover the lapped-over pomace-apron H, as shown in Fig.

6. The press is located within the frame, near the rear end of the same. Bed-timbers L support the bed M, which is provided with juicegrooves M, preferably of a rounded-out section, and tapering from'the rear to the front, where the expressed juice drips into a watertight tank, N, provided for that purpose, said tank having a faucet or pipe connection for emptying the same. The platen of the press is subdivided longitudinally of the machine into two parts, 0 0, having gum or equivalent springs, P, placed between them and the pressure-plates Q above, which are secured thereto by bolts Q. Ears Q project above the plates at each end, threugh'wh'ich 'a rod, Q about one and one-fourth inch diameter is passed, projecting beyond the same at each end to takethe pull of the pressure-rods. Beneath the frame, and central to the platens O O, are shafts S S, transversely placed, keyed, or setscrewed upon the shafts, and within the frame are eccentrics T T, of about three inches throw,

provided with sunken faces of a proper width and depth "to receive and retain the hoops R of the pressure-rods B, said rods being formed of about three-fourths inch square wroughtiron, bent, with an eye, R at the upper end,

' by which it is suspended from and connected with the rod Q, at the lower end having the hoop R, and bolting-ears, and bolts R rods are sprung apart so as to slip over the eccentrics, and then, being bolted through the ears, are retained in place. The bed M, platens O O, and plates Q, are cut out at their ends next tothe frame, as shown in Fig. 13, to per mit free play of the rods R as they are moved by the eccentrics.

On the feeding side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, each shaft S S is provided with a spur-gear wheel, S S, of equal diameter, hung outside of the frame, and a bevel-wheel, S of about the same diameter as the spur, is secured to the shaft S on an extension of the same through the spur S A driving'shaft, U, is suitably j ournaled in boxes U upon supports secured transversely to the frame, and

The

equivalent wheel, W, with the teeth of which the pawl V interlocks.

On the end of the shaft S, upon the same side with the ratchet-gear, is a disk crankwheel, Y, provided with a slot, Y, and in combination with a pin in said slot, and with a corresponding pin in the slot V of the arm V, is a connecting-rod, Z, whereby the alternate reciprocation of the pin on the disk Y is transferred to the arm V one half of said movement, as the pin travels in the direction of the arrow, producing a movement of the ratchet WV, roll I, pomace-rack J, and apron H, the pawl V being locked with the ratchet, the balance of the movement having no effect upon the roll, the pawl sliding over the ratchet-teeth, the amount of movement being governed by the position of the pins in their respective slots Y and V.

For the purpose of securing the pomace in a suitable form for expressing the juice under the press and to prevent waste of the same,

the mill is placed longitudinally parallel with the frame, and the pomace is delivered in a continuous narrow stream central to the endless apron H passing under the same. This apron may be of any suitable porous materialas felt or burlapand to secure wear a broad fell or seam should be run along both edges of the same, or a flat band of leather of about one inch in width may be stitched thereto to strengthen it. Intermediate to the grinder and press a rail, a, is secured to the frame, and movablysuspended beneath the same, horns a of the form shown in Fig. 6. The horns have a steady-pin at their outer ends, and bolts a when the adjustment is made, secure them to the rail. The rail is pulleymortised for the pins, and through-mortised for the bolts, which permits a wide range of adjustment. Near the rear end of the machine a second rail, 7), is provided with an integral horn, b, as shown in Fig. 7. The apron H has its edges thrown over the horns a, which, as the apron moves toward the press, turns the apron partly over upon the pomace, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. After leaving the press, the edges being hung over the horns b, the apron is unfolded and delivered upon the roller H at the rear in a flattened-out condition, and'the pomace being free is discharged therefrom. Planished copper springs d of about one and one-half inch breadth and nine inches in length are secured at their inner ends centrally upon the bed M beneath the pomace-rack J, as shown in Fig. 8, and are of ICO IZO

sufficient elasticity to raise the pomace-rack clear of the bed. When the pressure comes upon the bed, the springs flatten down upon the same, the outer ends being free to move for that purpose. Guides are provided to prevent side movement of the platens when pressure is brought to bear upon the same. These guides are of light wrought-iron bars, and are shown at e e, notches being cut out of the corners of the platens and plates to pass the same. They are secured to the bed and top rail by screws. 7

In the operation of the device as herein set forth the apples are fed into the hopper, ground into pomace in the mill, and, falling upon the apron H,are carried forward to the press by an intermittent movement of the pomace-rack, upon which the apron lies. At the moment the apron is moving the platen of the press is moving upward free from the bed, and theedges of the apron having been turned over upon the pomace, as described, and having passed under the sub or covering apron K, comes to a state of rest, the platens descend,and the juice is expressed. In case anything of a hard and unyielding nature should lie under either of the platens when the same are drawn down to their maximum extent, the pressure will be transferred to the springs P, which will relieve the strain and prevent breakage. Should additional pressure be desired, by raising the pressure-plates and inserting washers between the same and the gum springs any reasonable pressure may be obtained without risk, if the elasticity of the springs is not exceeded. On continuing the movement of the machine the apronis carried outside of the press-bed,and in its further progress toward the rear is gradually unfolded and the pomace discharged over the rear of the machine.

To regulate the thickness of the pomace upon the apron,the slide Bis adjusted to control the quantity of fruit that may pass between the cylinder and concave.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I show a mode of operating the pomace-rack that gives a better control of its movement, and which operates as follows: The rear platen-rod, Q, is projected through the ear Q}, 011 the right-hand side of the machine, far enough to hang loosely thereon a rod, 38, which leads down to and connects with a lever, 28, by a pin, 29, said lever being loosely fitted to the shaft S. Upon the outside of the frame A, next to said lever upon the same shaft, and movably fitted thereto, is

the adjusting-lever 33, provided with a tailgroove, 34, by which connection is made with lever 28 by a bolt through the car 31. This mode of connection enables the anglebetween the levers 28 and 33 to be within certain limits adjusted relative to each other. The ratch- The sides of the box 7 are bored to fit loosely over the bosses of the ratchet. A spring, 27, secures the pawl 26 in constant contact with the ratchet-teeth. One of the sides of the box is slipped with the ratchet upon the shaft prior to the keying of the ratchet thereto. The outer side of the box is then placed upon the ratchet, and being bolt ed the device is ready for operation, a link or bolt connection being made between the box 20 and the lever 33. A strap or chain, 39, is connected with the top of lever 33, and apin, 40, located at any convenient point upon the frame limits the movement of the same to the amount of slack allowed in hooking up the strap or chain. The rod 38, connected with the lever 28 bya bifurcated end,has its upper end made in the form of an open link, and its free end of sufficient length to permit the full rise or fall of the platen without risk of the platen-rod Q}? being disengaged therefrom. Collars upon the rod Q" prevent lateral movement of the rod 38 upon the same. A rod, 36, with a bifurcated head, connects by a pin, 30, with the lever 28, and has a series of weights hung upon the same sufficient to keep in ten sion the chain or strap 39.

To operate the device, the lever 33 is drawn, as shown in Fig. 15, Sheet 2, so that the platen shall, as it rises from the bed, operate the device at half-stroke. On arriving at that height the rod Q reaches the top of the loop in rod 38 and carries the rod along to the full extent of its rise, the rod at the same time drawing upon the levers 28 and 33 and box 20, and the latter, having its pawl 26 in gear with the ratchet 19, carries partially around the shaft to which it is attached, and with it the roll I and the pomace-rack J, and this movement may, through .the device shown, be made at any point between the beginning and termination of the upward movement of the platen. \Vhere a positive movement is given by positive connections with the press mechanism to the pomace-rack, there is more or less danger through lost motion, &c., of risk of breakage of machine and tearing of aprons, and the expense attendant upon such arrangement is entirely obviated by the device described, which costs no more to apply than the one first described. A

I am well aware that I am not the first to arrange a mill and press in combination, and to make the manufacture of cider a continuous operation; butI believe my invention to cover several useful and novel combinations not heretofore used for that purpose.

Having shown the construction and use of my improvement, I desire to secure by Letters Patent the following claims thereon:

1. As an improved construction for cidermills, &c., a grinding-roll composed esseir tially of the following elements: disk-heads secured upon a shaft and provided with ledges on their inside face for the reception of wooden staves, having notches cutthrough the periphery between said ledges to receive the grinding-knives, with cars upon the outer face of the disks having oblong slots in which the ously operated with an intermittent move ment, having pressure-plates and intermediate thereto springs of rubber or their equivalent, whereby each platen is made independent of the other in its action upon the pomace, and risk of breakage is removed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In acombincd mill and press, the shafts S S, gears S S eccentrics T T, and rods R and Q, in combination with frame A, bed L M, guides e e, platens O, springs 1, plates Q, bevels 8* and U shaft U, and driving-pulley U whereby power being applied the press-platens are made simultaneously to reciprocate vertically upon the guides e e, as and for the purpose set forth.

Aflexible pomace-rack composed, essentially, of narrow hard-wood slats secured to endless bands of copper, and adapted by revolving rolls I to traverse the press-bed from the front toward the rear, with an intermittent movement transferred thereto by shaft S and disk Y, by rod Z to the arm V, pawl V, ratchet \V, and pomacerack roll I, in combination with aprons H and K, grinding-roll C, the press, and machinery for operating the same, as and for the purpose described.

(5. Thefolding guides a and unfoldingguide I), constructed as shown, in combination with the apron H, whereby the same in its movement is made to fold over the pomace delivered upon the same, and after pressure is caused to unfold and discharge said pomace at the rear of the machine, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. The connecting pressure-rods R, constructed, as shown, with an eye, R hoop R, and ears R all formed from one piece, and adapted to be sprung over the eccentrics T, and secured movably thereon by bolts through the ears R, in combination with rods Q of platen-pressure plates Q, substantially as set forth.

S. In combination with the press-bed, endless pomace rack, and apron upon the same, the copper springs d, secured at one end only centrally upon and to said bed, whereby when the pressure is relieved upon the same the springs rising will lift the rack and apron above the bed and permit their free movement over the same, substantially as described.

, 9. In a continuous alternate and automatically operating combined grinder and press, the sub or covering apron K, with its compressive roller K, and its tensionally-hung roller K in combination with the apron H, pomace-rack J, press, and its actuating mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In combination with a press as described, its actuating mechanism, pomace rack, and aprons H and K, a suitable grinder placed above the apron for the reception of the pomace, with the axis of the grinding-roll parallel with the main frame of the machine, whereby the pom-ace is delivered in a continuous narrow stream upon said apron for the purpose set forth.

11. In combination with the pomace-rack of a cider-press for the purpose of securing an intermittent movement of the same upon the end of one of the supporting-rolls shaft, the fixed ratchet 19, combined ratchet-box 20, its pawl 26, and spring 27, with regulatinglever 33, its segmental tail-groove 34, operating-lever 28, car 31 by which it is connected with the regulatinglever, the counterweightrod 36, weight 37 and rod 38, connected with the platen-rod Q, all arranged as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

BENJAMIN F. ORILEY.

Vitnesses:

Lnwrs FRESHOOLN, CHARLES L. FRESHOOLN. 

